Minister Refuses to Back Down
Migration minister Mike Tapp has declared he “won’t be intimidated” after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to sack him for writing an unsanctioned article on migration policy. The article, published in The Times, suggested foreign care workers should be exempt from proposed stricter settlement rules.
Stand-Off Between Home Office and No 10
Ms Mahmood has urged the Prime Minister to dismiss Mr Tapp, accusing him of breaching the ministerial code by publicly opposing government policy. However, Downing Street has resisted immediate action, leading to a stand-off seen as a test of Sir Keir’s authority in his final weeks as Prime Minister.
In his article, Mr Tapp argued that care workers already in the UK should not face longer waits for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). He wrote that he had been “working closely with officials to develop a better approach than a blanket retrospective extension from five years to 10 years for everyone.”
Social Media Defiance
Writing on social media on Friday, Mr Tapp said: “It’s gone from ‘he broke the ministerial code’ to ‘he stole my idea’. I have put my views across on a policy I’ve been working on for months (I have the receipts) in an Op Ed in the times. Give it a read, and let’s continue to discuss. I won’t be intimidated to drop my views. Stay classy!”
The minister, who was attending a wedding in San Francisco, appeared to dismiss suggestions that his ideas were not his own.
Government Source Criticises Breach of Collective Responsibility
A Government source said Mr Tapp’s article was out of step with Home Office policy and violated collective responsibility, the convention that ministers do not air policy disputes in public. The Home Secretary reportedly was unaware of the piece and believes the Dover and Deal MP should be dismissed as minister for migration and citizenship.
Jake Richards, a justice minister and whip, told Times Radio: “Mike’s article in The Times sets out what his views are and some of the issues that he in the Home Office is exploring. It’s not particularly wise in my mind for junior ministers to set that out publicly. We are part of a team, he has done that and we will deal with that as a Government.”
Broader Political Turmoil
Mr Tapp has been a loyal supporter of Sir Keir, even as the Prime Minister’s authority waned across the Parliamentary Labour Party. He expressed disappointment at Sir Keir’s resignation announcement on Monday, calling it a “sad day.” The questions over his future come amid broader turmoil, with Andy Burnham emerging as the frontrunner to replace Sir Keir as early as July 17.
